An efficient organocatalyzed multicomponent synthesis of diarylmethanes via Mannich type Friedel–Crafts reaction

We have developed an efficient organocatalyzed, multicomponent synthesis of diarylmethane derivatives from tertiary aromatic amines, formaldehyde and 2-naphthols via Mannich type Friedel–Crafts reaction. Several organocatalysts such as (−)-chinchonidine, l-proline, l-thiaproline, and l-pipecolonic acid have been screened for the reaction but the best results were obtained with l-proline. In this Mannich type Friedel–Crafts alkylation, tertiary aromatic amines react with formaldehyde–proline adduct to generate 1-(4-(dimethylamino)benzyl)pyrrolidinium-2-carboxylate intermediate, which undergoes nucleophilic addition to give substituted diarylmethanes in excellent yields.